Costa Daily News

Culture

The view of Spaniards as relaxed people with a mañana attitude is, to varying degrees, beginning to change. The heat of southern areas, such as Andalusia, means the siesta is still very much a part of traditional Spanish life, but the cities are the hubs of 24/7 activity that you'll find all over Europe, Spaniards, of course, never loose their contagious knack for enjoying life.

Moving to Spain
RELOCATION CHECKLIST

If you have made the decision and are moving to the sunny climate of Spain here are some important things that need doing, mostly common sense but you may find a few things here you did not think to do. The checklist contains things to do before coming to Spain and things that need to be done once you have arrived in Spain.

Start taking Spanish lessons!  Get all the family involved

Get a new E111 form from the Post Office to be eligible for free emergency health treatment (E111 forms are due to be replaced by the European Health Insurance Card or EHIC).& If unemployed get an E106 form, while pensioners and those on invalidity benefit will need form E121 (see “In Spain” section for more details about Spanish healthcare). You will need an E111 even if you’re there for a short visit

We have collected some useful addresses for people either coming to Spain or who already live here. If you have an address you think we should add please let us know click here and we will add it as soon as possible

UK PENSIONS SERVICE
International Pension Centre Tyneview Park, Whitely Road, Benton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE98 1BA; 0191 218 7777

ROYAL MAIL REDIRECTION SERVICE: 08457 740740;
www.royalmail.com (or pick up a form at the Post Office)

SPANISH EMBASSY
39 Chesham Place, London, SW1X 8SB; 020 7235 5555

BRITISH EMBASSY IN SPAIN:
Calle Fernando el Santo 16, 28010 Madrid; 00 34 902 171 181; 

Click here for www.ukinspain.com For addresses of consulates in Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cádiz, Ibiza, Gran Canaria, Madrid, Málaga, Mallorca, Menorca, Tenerife, Seville and Vigo

Can I bring my pets to Spain?

The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) allows cats and dogs resident in the UK to visit other countries and return to the UK without quarantine, provided that certain conditions are met. There needs to be proof of all necessary inoculations and relevant microchips along with the pet passport.

Can I bring my car to Spain?